. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/USA/1836 
20 June 2008  
 (08-2926) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES  
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   UNITED STATES
 
If applicable, name of local government involved:    
2. Agency responsible:   Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the US 
Department of Agriculture 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where applicable):  Pork and pork products 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable :  
Armenia  
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:  Interim rule and request 
for comments: Addition of Armenia to the List of Regions Where African Swine Fever Exists (Docket No. APHIS–2007–0142) (available in English, 2 pages)  
6. Description of content:  The Animal and Plant Health In spection Service is amending the 
regulations concerning the importation of anim als and animal products by adding Armenia 
to the list of regions where African swine feve r exists.  APHIS is taking this action because 
outbreaks of African swine fever have been c onfirmed in various locations in the northern 
portion of Armenia.  This action will restrict the importation of pork  and pork products into 
the United States from Armenia and is necessar y to prevent the introduction of African 
swine fever into the United States. 
7. Objective and rationale:  [   ] food safety, [ X ] animal health, [   ] plant protection, [  
 ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [   ] protect territory from other damage from pests    
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:  On 29 August 2007, 
Armenia reported to the World Organization for Animal Health six outbreaks of ASF in various areas in the northern part of the count ry.  The source of the outbreaks is unknown. 
This rulemaking is necessary on an emergenc y basis to prevent the introduction of ASF 
into the United States. 
9. International standard, guideline or recommendation:  
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission, [ X ] World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE), [   ] International Plant Protection Convention, [   ] None  
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the 
appropriate reference and briefly identify deviations:  Chapter 2.6.6. of the Terrestrial 
Animal Health Code specifies the conditions fo r freedom from African Swine Fever.  This 
action does not deviate significantly from the standard. G/SPS/N/USA/1836 
Page 2  
 
  10. Relevant documents and language(s ) in which these are available:   Federal Register:  
7 January 2008 (Volume 73, Number 4), Pages 1043-1044; Available in English. 
Available online via http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/advanced.html
; select 2008 FR Vol. 73, 
and type 1043 in search box.   
11. Date of entry into force/period of application (as applicable):  7 January 2008 
(retroactive to 29 August 2007) 
12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [   ] National notification 
authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:  
We will consider all comments that we r eceive on or before 7 March 2008.  You may 
submit comments by either of the following methods:  
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to  
http://www.regulations.gov/f dmspublic/component/main?ma in=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-
2007-0142  to submit or view comments and to  view supporting and related materials 
available electronically. 
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please se nd two copies of your comment to Docket 
No. APHIS–2007–0142, Regulatory Analysis a nd Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A–
03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737–1238.  Please state that your 
comment refers to Docket No. APHIS–2007–0142. 
For further information contact:  Mr. Javier Vargas, Animal Scientist, Regionalization Evaluation Services Staff, National 
Center for Import and Export, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 
20737–1231; tel. +1 301 734–0756. 
13. Texts available from: [ X ] National notification authority, [   ] National enquiry point, 
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:  
United States SPS National Notification Authority, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, 
International Regulations and Standards Division (IRSD), Stop 1027, Washington D.C. 
20250;  Tel:  +(1 202) 720 1301;  Fax:  +(1 202) 720 0433;  E-mail:  us.spsenquirypoint@fas.usda.gov